Sailing Catamaran Escape - Episode 26 - Port Vila

Until Independence in 1980 Vanuatu was an Anglo-French colony known as The New Hebrides.

We enter the capital, Port Vila on Efate Island, to complete Bio-Security and finalise all the entry formalities into the country.
Whilst there we had to wait for sail material, and new gearbox components from New Zealand.

We see the devestation caused by Cyclone Pam in 2015, several sunken vessels litter the harbour.

We experience Mama’s Market, which is open around the clock with women from all over the country selling fruit and veg.

There was a parade through the streets to protest about ethnic tension resulting in a killing and violence. A Tannese man was murdered by a group of men from Ambrym. A couple of weeks later a ceremony was held which saw the Ambrym Chiefs and community give a plot of land and VT100,000. They also presented a token of apology and forgiveness with gifts of pigs and food.

We spent time at two nearby museums. Suzanne Bastion Foundation, featuring Patrice Cuto’s ‘Maps Blong Vanuatu’.We met the artist Aloi Pilioko an 85 year old man with yellow hair, the same colour as much of his art. He and Nicolai Michootouchkine both celebrated artists who have exhibited their work worldwide.

We attended a spectacular Fire Show at Mele Bay. Every Friday night the youth from Wan Smol Bag Theatre, show off their talent. The group started in 2011, previously unemployed they grow and develop their skills.They were trained by a volunteer English circus performer Mr Rik Hinton.